Costco Connection

wine connection

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WBy Annette Alvarez-Peters WHEN THE WARMER weather of spring arrives, many people reach for lighter foods and a variety of white wine. But instead of a traditional go-to Chardonnay, which continues to be a best-seller, I suggest that you try one of the numerous other choices available to liven up your spring and summer meals.

A good place to start is

Albariño (al-bah-reen-yo), the Spanish specialty. Crisp and refreshing, and a perfect seafood companion, Albariño comes from the cool, damp northwestern region of Rías Baixas. You’ll find pure fruit flavors of peaches, stone fruit and citrus with zesty acidity, followed by a lingering mineral finish. Albariño is an uplifting and aromatic wine meant to be consumed young. It’s one of my favorites and pairs exceptionally well with oysters.

MICHAEL FALCO

The famed Austrian grape Grüner Veltliner (groon-er velt-leen-er) is sure to wake up your palate. Here’s a wine that breaks the “red wine with meat” rule. With its crisp acidity, bold mineral flavors and distinct spice and white pepper notes, Grüner pairs wonderfully with meat dishes, as well as a variety of fish. This light- to medium-bodied wine can have unique herbal flavors that work well with many vegetarian entrées—especially hard-to-pair veggies, such as asparagus and artichokes.

Another excellent choice is Sauvignon Blanc, which has been successfully cultivated across many continents. In New Zealand, where it’s called “Sauvy,” the wine expresses bold gooseberry and grapefruit flavors with mouthwatering acidity.

I particularly like the Sauvignon Blancs from the Graves appellation of Bordeaux. These dry whites have a distinct grassiness and citrus flavors with strong mineral influence from the region’s famous gravelly soils. Some oak aging and blending (with Semillon and Muscadelle) add complexity and creaminess. Some of the region’s best dry whites come from the commune Pessac-Léognan.

North of Bordeaux, in the scenic Loire Valley,

MEDIA BAKERY

elegant Sauvignon Blanc examples come from the easternmost areas of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. In Sancerre, grapes are grown in chalky limestone soil, which helps bring out the pure Sauvignon Blanc flavors and high acidity. Poully-Fumé soils have more limestone and flint, giving a smoky character to the wine (in French, fumé means “smoke”). The grassy, herbal wines with gooseberry notes are full of min-erality (think clean wet stones), which is attractive and pleasant on the palate.

The Loire Valley is also home to Savennières, where wonderfully aromatic, dry Chenin Blancs are made with bright acidity and intense flavors of melons, peaches and honey. Vouvray produces a broader range of Loire Chenin Blanc—styles can range from dry (sec) to sweet (moelleux), with equally intense flavors and aromas. Due to the laws in France, the grape variety is not listed on the bottle; the appellation name is the indication that the wines are Chenin Blanc.

California produces some delightful light- to medium-bodied Chenin Blancs that tend to be fruit forward, with beautiful peach and floral notes. South Africa’s version is locally known as “Steen.” Both New World wines pair particularly well with spicier dishes and salads.

Another nice match for spicy and savory dishes is the slightly sweet, slightly bubbly (frizzante) Moscato d’Asti. Normally an aperitif, this wine hails from the Piedmont region in northwest Italy. Moscato is an easy-to-drink wine with lovely flavors and aromas of peach and apricot.

California Moscato continues to climb in popularity. This crowd-pleaser is fragrant, mildly sweet and low in alcohol, making it the perfect sipper for a warm spring afternoon.

Spring forward and warm up to some new white varietals. Look for these full-flavored wines during your next Costco visit and explore the many ways they can be paired with a variety of foods. Cheers! C

Annette Alvarez-Peters oversees Costco’s wine, beer and spirits program.

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Costco

You’ll ;nd these ;ne white wines at select Costcos:

Morgadío Albariño Rías Baixas, Spain Item #181743 Laurenz und Sophie Grüner Veltliner Kamptal, Austria Item #327363 Santo Moscato d’Asti Piedmont, Italy Item #549602 Les Hospices Sancerre Loire Valley, France Item #559179

VISUAL LANGUAGE

FOR INFORMATION on Costco’s Kirkland Signature™ wines, go to Costco.com, click on “Costco Connection Magazine,” then “Kirkland Signature Wine Connection.” To find which warehouses carry wine, click on “Beer, Wine & Spirits Locator.” C